Huskers Fall Short in Both First-Day Matches

Bradenton, Fla. – The Nebraska men’s golf team lost by a narrow margin to fifth-seeded Ohio State in the first round before dropping its match against No. 11 Wisconsin in the consolation bracket of the Big Ten Match Play Championship on Friday.

The Huskers, representing the No. 12 seed, were deadlocked with the Buckeyes at 2-2 in the opening match, with Calvin Freeman’s tightly contested match against Frederik Hammer deciding the final score. Freeman, a junior, led for the majority of the front nine until Hammer grabbed the lead on the 14th.

The pair matched scores on the following three holes before Hammer, holding a 1 Up lead, bogeyed the 18th and Freeman double-bogeyed.

Nebraska’s Justin Jennings and Mike Siwa managed victories against the Buckeyes, while Ross Dickson and Matt Record fell in their matches. Jennings, a freshman, won the first two holes against Michael Bernard and never looked back in a 4&3 triumph.

Siwa also raced out to an early lead, taking four of the first five holes before Clark Engle won the next three. After 12 holes, the pair was tied before Siwa won Nos. 13 through 15 to post a 3&2 win.

Record fell by a 3&2 margin to Tee-K Kelly, while Dickson dropped a 5&3 match to Boo Timko. However, Dickson managed the lone Husker victory against Wisconsin, posting a 1-Up triumph over Rob Jacobsen.

Dickson and Jacobsen traded wins on the first two holes before Dickson won Nos. 6 and 7 to take a 2-Up lead into the back nine. He won Nos. 11 and 12 to extend the lead but dropped three of the next four holes to take a 1-Up lead into the final two. Dickson birdied the 17th and bogeyed the 18th to hold on and give Nebraska the victory.

Jennings and Record suffered losses on the 18th hole to the Badgers, while Siwa fell by a 3&1 margin and Freeman dropped a 5&4 match.

Record managed to win six holes in his match but Zach Balit won eight, including the 18th. Jennings also won six holes in his match but Thomas O’Bryan held on for a 1-Up win.

The Huskers face 10th-seeded Penn State on Saturday starting at 7:50 a.m. CT on Hole No. 1. Live scoring and updated brackets can be found at http://www.ajga.org/big10mpc/.